Cabinet structure



p 8, 1942'- E. s. STOVDDARD ETAL ,295,304

CABINET STRUCTURE Filed F81. 2'7

2 SheetS- -Sheet 1 Iriventor-s: 'Edg aw- $.Sboddard, Philip K. Borman, by vvL /di Their- Abbornqg.

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Sept. 8, 1942-.

E. s. STODDARD a-rm. 2,295,304

CABINET STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 27, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 n ma w .2 d h TIQO T Q a W 0 HIV E Q Patented Sept. 8, 1942 canmn'r s'rauc'rvaa Edgar S. Stoddard, Berwyn, andj'hilip'K. Borman, Chicago, 111., asslgnors to Edison General Electric Appliance Company, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of New York Application February 27, 1941, Serial No. 380,850

3 Claims. (01. sir-141) This invention relates to a cabinet structure and more particularly to a cabinet structure for a domestic appliance such as a dishwashing apparatus and has for its object the provision of a cabinet structure the appearance of which may be readily and simply altered.

In the manufacture of household appliances such as washing apparatus, ranges or the like, it is desirable to produce different cabinet styles for difierent models. These cabinet styles are considerably afiected by the shape and design of the corners of'the cabinet. Since most cabinets or the integral 'parts thereof are formed by a pressing or drawing operation, the comer design could only be altered by changing the drawing tools. This entails a considerable tooling expense, particularly in the number of tools that must be provided for'forming cabinets with dif-- ferent shaped corners.

It is the object of this invention to provide a separate corner construction for cabinets of domestic appliances so that the style and shape of the cabinet corner may be simply and inexpensively altered.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a corner structure for a cabinet in the form of a separable corner mullion the shape of which may be altered as desired.

It is a, further object of this invention to providesimple and inexpensive means for removably attaching a corner mullion construction on a cabinet structure.

It is a further object of this invention to provide simple and inexpensive means for firmly and rigidly supporting a corner mullion in its proper position on a cabinet structure so as to give the appearance of an integrally formed comer.

It is the specific object of this invention to provide a cabinet structure for a dishwasher with interchangeable corner mullions which are provided with simple and inexpensive means for mounting the mullion on the cabinet so that its edge portions cooperate with the adjacent surfaces of the cabinet so as to stimulate an integrally formed corner construction.

For a more complete understanding of this invention reference should be had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. l is a perspective of a cabinet structure to which my improved corner mullion construction has been applied;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevation with parts broken away and parts in section showing details of construction of the corner mullion and'one form of mounting means therefor; Fig. 3 is a with parts broken away and parts in section; Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 and looking indirection of arrows, the alternative clamping means shown in Fig. 2 being omitted; Fig. 5 is an exploded view of the assembly shown in Fig. 4, including the alternative clamping means shown in dotted lines in Figs. 2 and 3; Fig. 6 is a front elevation similar to Fig. 2 of a modified form of mounting structure for the corner mullion arrangement with parts broken away and parts in section; Fig. '7

is a side elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 6 with parts broken away and parts in section; Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6 and looking in direction of arrows; and Fig. 9 is an exploded view of the assembly shown in Fig. 8 showing additional details of this modified form of mounting arrangement.

Referring to. the drawings and particularly to Fig. 1, it will, be observed that this-invention has been shown-by way of example as applied to the cabinet structure for a, dishwasher. It is to be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit this invention to such a cabinet structure since it can be applied to cabinets for other 'round contour at the corners.

domestic appliances such as ranges and the like.

The cabinet illustrated includes side walls It, a top wall II and a front wall I! which is provided with an opening adapted to be closed by a door Hi. It will be understood that the door 13 is hinged by suitable means (not shown) so that it can be moved from a vertically closed position to a horizontally open position.

In accordance with this invention there is provided at each of the front corners of the cabinet detachable corner mullion constructions H which comprise sheet metal strips suitably formed to give the desired corner shape. In the illustrated embodiments of this invention these corner mullions are somewhat curved so as to produce a It is of course understood that these members could-be of any other desired shape so as to change the style of the cabinet structure. In fact, it is contemplated in accordance with this invention to have a plurality of differently shaped corner mullions available for readily and simply changing the corner designs of the dishwasher cabinet.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5, it will be observed that the corner mullion l4 illustrated has aturned-in side edge l5 and a front surface l6, connected by a smooth curve I1. Extending perpendicularly from the front edge is the flange l8 side elevation of the construction shown'in Fig. 2 which terminates in the tumed-in surface l9.

The flange l8 in the mullion illustrated serves as a jamb for the door l3. It is of course understood that the corner mullion is formed by a separate pressing, shaping, or drawing operation A but it is obvious that the small pieces of metal stock required for these mullions can be more easily worked with and formed at less cost than would be the case if an equivalent corner structure were integrally formed in the cabinet.

In employing such corner mullions on a cab inet it is'essential to provide means for firmly clips 20 which are spot welded at spaced intervals along the inside surface of the mullion. Preferably three of these clips will be provided in each mullion. 'I'hes'e clips are provided on one side with a bracket portion 2| which has a key-shaped head 22. Provided on the opposite side of the clip is a second projection 23 having a laterally flared outer end 24, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. Provided at each end of the clip are end projections 25 which are generally rectangular in shape except the edge of the projections adjacent the flared end 24 of the projection 23 are chamfered, as shown in Fig. 4.

In order to complete the mounting means for the corner mullion the side wall ll! of the cabinet is bent so as to define the inwardly extending'flange 28 and a laterally projecting abutment 21. "Provided in the flange 26 are a plurality of slots 28 into which the key-shaped head 22 of the clip is adapted to extend. After the head portion 22 of each of these clips 20 has been inserted through their respective slots 28, the entire corner mullion is raised vertically so that the top edge of the slot 28 engages with the edge 29 of the bracket portion 2|. It will be observed that the upper portion of the key-shaped head is chamfered at 30 so that upon moving the mullion vertically upward as previously described, the mullion will be drawn inwardly until the inside edge 3| of the head lies against the inside surface of the'fiange 26, as shown in Fig. 3. After the mullion has thus been raised into position, a clamping plate 32 is placed under the head portion of the lowermost clip 20 and is secured in position on a lower cabinet bracket 33 by means of a screw 3 so as to firmly support the mullion in its mounted position on the flange 26 of the side wall.

As previously stated, it is of course important from the point of view of appearance and design that such a separate corner mullion con struction simulate the appearance of a continuous surface, as is obtained with an integrally formed corner construction. In accordance with this invention means are provided for properly orienting the mullion both from front to back and from right to left so that the edge portion of the mullion will cooperate'with the adjacent side wall and so that the front surface l6 of the mullion will lie fiush with the outer surfaces of the door l3 and the front wall l2. This orientation is obtained by the positioning of the projec- 23 and 25 on the clips When the mullion is mounted on the cabinet the lateral projection 21 tion 21 within andrelative to the projections of the cabinet side wall extends into the slot defined between the projections 23 and the end projections 25 of the clip. The flared edge 2| of the projection 23 and the chamfered edges of the projections 25 facilitate the insertion of the lateral projection 21 into the slot. Once the projection is inserted in the opening, the length of the lateral projection 21 determines the positioning of the mullion from front to back, as viewed in Fig. 4, and the. relative position of the clip in the mullion determines the positioning of themullion from right to left, as viewed in this same figure.

It will be observed that in this form of this invention very simple and eflective means are provided for easily and positively applying a separable comer construction to the cabinet. It is of course obvious that the improved means for maintaining and supporting the mullion in its operative position and for orienting the mullion with respect to the adjacent walls are not limited to the particular shape of mullion disclosed. in the drawings. The same construction could be used for mullions of various shapes.

In Figs. 6 through 9 there is shown a modified form of this invention, particularly with reference to the means for supporting the corner mullion in its operative position.- In this arrangement mounting means have been provided so that it is unnecessary to shift the mullion vertically in order to complete its mounting on the corner construction. In these figures elements which are the same as elements illustrated in Figs. 2-5 are identified by the same numeral.

' Referring to Figs. 6 through 9 it will be observed that a plurality of U-shaped clips 35 is integrally formed on the mullion I4 at vertically spaced intervals along the edge 15 thereof. These clips'are adapted to be inserted in slots 36 provided in the fiange 28 near the front edge thereof, as shown in Fig. 9. Welded to the inside surface of the portion l8 of the mullion are a plurality of vertically spaced substantially U-.

shaped clips 31. Each clip is provided with an opening 38 (Fig. 9) which lies over an opening 39 provided in the jamb portion l8 of the mullion. In this modified form of this invention, the aligning of the mullion with the side wall of the cabinet is effected by the positioning of the slots 36 relative to the U-shaped clips 35.

In order to support the mullion in its mounted position on the flange, a plurality of vertically spaced threaded openings 48 is provided in the lateral projection 21 of the side wall. Machine screws 4| are inserted through the aligned openings 38 and 33 in the U-shaped clip and jambportion of the mullion respectively and are threaded into these openings 40. It will be observed that in some respects this modified form of construction is simpler than the form shown in Figs. 2 through 5 in that it does not require vertical movement of the mullion in order to mount it in its operative poistiom From the foregoing description it will be ob-' served that there is provided in accordance with this invention new and improved means for firmly and positively securing a separable corner mullion construction on a cabinet, thereby permitting fiexibility in the design of such corner structures as well as reducing the cost of manufacture of such cabinets.

While two modifications of this invention have been described in detail, it is obvious that many other modifications may bemade and it is intended in the accompanying claims to cover all such'modiflcations as are within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is: y

1. In a cabinet having afront wall and side walls adjacent thereto, a flange integrally formed along the front edge of each side wall and having alateral projection lying parallel to said side walls and projecting beyond the frontedge thereof, a corner mullion structure having a portion adapted to lie flush with each of the. walls forming the corner .to which the mullion is applied,

said, flange having a plurality of slots formed therein at vertically spaced intervals, a plurality of clips secured to .saidmullion at vertically spaced intervals corresponding to the spacing of said slots, .a projection on each of said clips hav-" ing ahead portion adapted to be inserted through said slots to mount said mullion on said flange, a plurality ,of additional projections on said clip defining a slot for receiving said lateral projection on said flange so as to position said mullion with respect to the adjacent walls of said cabinot so that the respective portions thereof lie flush with said walls, meansin said head por-- tion permitting vertical movement of said mullion for an amount sufllcient to prevent said head portion from being moved through said slot and thereby secure said mullion to saidflange, and

ing said mullion in said mounted position to said projection so that said portions thereof will be properly oriented relative to said adjacent walls. 3. A cabinet structure comprising a wall having -a side edge, an inwardly extending flange integrally formed with said wall at said side edge, a projection integrally formed on said flange and extending parallel 'to said wall beyond the front edge thereof, a corner mullion adapted to cover said flange and said projection and having a portion adapted to cooperate-with said wall at said side edge thereof to give the appearance of a continuous surface, said flange having a plurality of vertically spaced slots therein, a plurality of hooking members on said corner mullion adapted to extend into said slots so as to mount means engaging said lowermost clip in said mullion for holding said mullion in. its vertically raised position.

2. In a cabinet having a front wall and sidewalls adjacent thereto, a flange integrally formed along the front edge of said side walls and having alateral projection lying parallel to said mullion on said flange, a plurality of vertically spaced aligning members extending inwardlyfrom said mullion so as to lie in juxtapositionwith said projection, 'and means for. drawing together said aligning members and said pro- Y jection to. align said mullion horizontally relative a to said wall.

EDGAR s. STODDARD. PHILIP K. BORMAN. 

